Folding foot step with anti-skid surface

ABSTRACT

A folding foot step of the type used on vehicles has an improved anti-skid, friction grip, stand-on surface with a clover-leaflet-shaped perimeter. The stand-on surface is interrupted by three elongate openings that are spaced inwardly from the perimeter and arrayed to extend about an uninterrupted central region of the stand-on surface. An upwardly-opening recess is defined by a narrow upstanding rim that runs along and defines the perimeter of the stand-on surface, and by narrow upstanding rims that encircle the three openings. Anti-skid material is nested in the recess, covers the floor of the recess, and cooperates with the narrow upstanding rims to provide a stand-on surface that features a friction-grip texture in the central region and in regions of the stand-on surface located between the openings, and between the openings and the perimeter

REFERENCE TO SUBJECT-MATTER RELATED APPLICATION

Reference is made to design application Ser. No. 29/133,617, filed Dec.4, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. D 445,076 by Lee S. Weinerman entitle FOLDINGSTEP, and to design application Ser. No. 29/133,618. filed Dec. 4, 2000,now U.S. Pat. No. D 449,264 by Lee S. Weinerman entitle STEP PORTIONS OFFOLDING STEP ASSEMBLY, which relate to appearance features that may beutilized in the practice of the present invention, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in folding foot stepassemblies of the type that are used on vehicles such as trucks andrailroad cars to provide a convenient means to ascend and descend thevehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to providingfolding step assemblies with an improved anti-skid, friction grip,stand-on surface having a generally clover-leaflet-shaped perimeter,with the stand-on surface being interrupted by three elongate openingsthat are spaced from the perimeter and arrayed about an uninterruptedcentral region of the surface, with an upwardly-opening recess beingdefined by a narrow upstanding rim that runs along the perimeter of thestand-on surface and by narrow upstanding rims that encircle theopenings, with anti-skid material nested in the recess, covering thefloor of the recess, and cooperating with the narrow upstanding rims toprovide a stand-on surface that features a friction-grip texture in thecentral region and in regions of the stand-on surface located betweenthe openings and between the openings and the perimeter.

2. Prior Art

Large vehicles such as railroad and rail transit cars, trucks, firetrucks, trailers, motor homes, campers and the like require some meansto facilitate climbing up and down the vehicle. Various devices havebeen proposed to facilitate ascending and descending such vehicles.

A folding foot step assembly for vehicles that has been in wide use formany years is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,486issued Jul. 31, 1984 entitled FOLDING FOOT STEP, referred to hereinafteras the “Folding Step Patent,” the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. Reference also is made to U.S. Pat. No. D-276,716issued Dec. 11, 1984 entitled FOLDING STEP, which discloses anattractive appearance for a folding step.

The Folding Step Patent discloses a bracket member for mounting on theside of a vehicle, and a step member having a relatively wide frontregion that defines a stand-on surface located forwardly with respect toa relatively narrow rear region that is pivotally connected to thebracket member to enable the step member to pivot relative to thebracket member between an “extended” or “use” position and a “folded” or“storage” position. When the step member is in its extended or useposition, the stand-on surface extends substantially horizontally andfaces upwardly for being engaged by shoes and boots of those who use thefolding step assembly to ascend or descend the side of the vehicle onwhich the folding step is mounted. When the step member is in its foldedor storage position, the stand-on surface extends substantiallyvertically and faces toward the side of the vehicle—an orientation thatminimizes the extent to which the folding step assembly projects awayfrom the side of the vehicle.

The configuration of the stand-on surface, as defined by the perimeterof the step member disclosed in the Folding Step Patent, is much likethat of a leaflet of a “three-leaflet” white clover plant commonly foundin the lawns of mid-western America. More specifically, the perimeter ofthe stand-on surface is defined by opposite sides that diverge as theyextend forwardly from the relatively narrow rear region of the stepmember (so as to increase the width of the stand-on surface as thestand-on surface extends forwardly from the relatively narrow rearregion of the step member), and by a rounded, generally “C-shaped” frontthat connects smoothly with the opposite sides (at opposite “ends” ofthe “C” of the front) to complete the perimeter of the stand-on surface.Stand-on surfaces that have a perimeter of this character are referredto herein as being “clover-leaflet-shaped” and as having a“clover-leaflet shape.”

The Folding Step Patent discloses a folding step assembly having astand-on surface of clover-leaflet shape that is provided with a singlerelatively large, centrally located, kidney-shaped opening that isspaced from and substantially aligns with the curved C-shaped front ofthe step member. The kidney-shaped opening permits mud and other shoe-or boot-carried debris to escape when a shoe or boot is moved onto andpressed against the stand-on surface. Those who pivot the step memberbetween its extended and folded positions also find the kidney-shapedopening to be useful in that it provides a passage through which thefingers of one hand can be inserted when it is necessary to grasp thestep member to effect its pivotal movement.

While the referenced Folding Step Patent discloses the use of protrudingdiamond shaped elements on a clover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface forthe purpose of providing anti-skid characteristics, it is desirable toprovide a significantly improved slip resistant, anti-skid, stand-onsurface that is much less likely to permit the soles of shoes and bootsto slip and slide thereon.

Other improvements that aid in providing an anti-skid surface also aredesirable if they can be implemented without discarding the wellaccepted and well liked features of the folding step assembly disclosedin the Folding Step Patent, including the clover-leaflet shape of thestand-on surface and the advantages offered by the presence of akidney-shaped opening that parallels the C-shaped front of the stand-onsurface at a location spaced therefrom.

During recent years, significant effort has been devoted to thedevelopment of anti-skid materials that can be applied to exteriorsurfaces such as roadways, walkways and steps, and to interior surfacessuch as the floors of bath tubs and shower stalls, as well as interiorwalkways and steps, to diminish unintended slippage thereon. This efforthas resulted in the development of anti-skid formulations that can beapplied as a spray or in liquid or paste form to surfaces where thenewly applied material cures otherwise hardens over time, and in thedevelopment of adhesive-backed sheets of anti-skid material having apeel-off backing that enables the adhesive-backed sheets to be appliedquickly and easily to surfaces to immediately provide desired anti-skidcharacteristics. Inasmuch as new types of anti-skid material andimprovements in existing types of anti-skid material are steadily beingdeveloped, it is desirable to find an appropriate manner in whichnow-existing and newly developed forms of anti-skid material can beutilized on clover-leaflet-shaped folding step assemblies to enhance theanti-skid characteristics thereof without diminishing or distractingfrom other well accepted and advantageous features thereof, and whilealso providing other useful improvements therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the foregoing and other drawbacks of theprior art by providing a folding step having a clover-leaflet-shapedstand-on surface that defines a wide-area recess wherein anti-skidmaterial is nested. The recess is defined, at least in part, by a narrowrim that extends along the perimeter of the clover-leaflet-shapedstand-on surface to protect edge regions of the anti-skid from edgeabrasion and/or from being peeled off of the step member.

The provision of a folding step assembly of the type having aclover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface with anti-skid material nested ina wide-area recess bordered by a narrow, upstanding, perimetricallyextending rim represents one novel feature of the present invention. Theprovision of a wide-area recess (i.e., a recess that extends across thevast majority of the top surface of a metal step member except where rimformations are provided near edge regions thereof) constitutes anarrangement that can be used with a wide variety of present-dayanti-skid materials, and is well suited for use with new anti-skidmaterials as they are developed.

In preferred practice, the clover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface isinterrupted not only by an elongate kidney-shaped opening that is spacedfrom and substantially parallels the curved C-shape front of thestand-on surface, but also by a pair of other elongate openings, each ofwhich parallels one of the opposed sides of the stand-on surface thatextend between the curved C-shaped front and the relatively narrow rearregion of the step member. In preferred practice, these three elongateopenings are spaced short distances from the perimeter of the stand-onsurface, and are arrayed about an uninterrupted central region of thestand-on surface, with the recess that carries the anti-skid materialextending across the central region, between the openings, and betweenthe openings and the perimeter of the stand-on surface. These threeopenings preferably are of about the same size and all are designed andpositioned to provide finger-receiving passages that can be used whenone needs to grip the step member from the front or from either of thesides of thereof to pivot the step member between its extended andfolded positions.

The provision of a clover-leaflet-shaped step member with three elongateopenings wherein one is generally kidney-shaped (spaced from andparalleling the C-shaped front) and the other two are elongate and haverounded ends (each spaced from and paralleling a separate one of theopposed sides of the step member) to provide hand holds that can receivethe figures of one's hand when a need exists to grasp the step to pivotit between its folded and extended positions, has proved to be quite auseful feature unto itself—a feature that is not limited to use withclover-leaflet-shaped step members that carry anti-skid material nestedin an upwardly opening recess.

In preferred practice, the area of the stand-on surface and the combinedarea of the three elongate openings has a ratio of about two-to-one.While the stand-on surface is not limited to a particular size, inpreferred practice the stand-on surface offers about 24 to about 25square inches of upwardly facing support area to boots and shoes thatengage it; and, the combined area of the three openings that interruptthe stand-on surface is within the range of about 12.0 to about 12.5square inches so as to provide enough open space to enable mud and othershoe and boot-carried debris to discharge therethrough as shoes andboots are moved onto and pressed into engagement with the stand-onsurface. The resulting ratio of approximately two-to-one can, of course,be preserved if the size of the stand-on surface is scaled up or down toprovide step member sizes that are better suited to a particularapplication.

In preferred practice, the borders of the large-area recess that neststhe anti-skid material are defined by relatively thin, upstanding rimsthat are at least as tall (they extend at least as far above the floorof the recess wherein the anti-skid material is nested) as is theaverage thickness of the anti-skid material. Because the anti-skidmaterial is provided with a rough top surface that typically is definedby abrasive particles or the like held in place by a suitable binder(much like a sheet of coarse sandpaper), the thickness of the anti-skidmaterial varies between the peaks and valleys between the abrasiveparticles. To protect edge regions of the anti-skid material from undueedge abrasion and/or from being peeled away from the floor of therecess, the upstanding rims preferably are at least as tall as theaverage thickness of the body of anti-skid material carried in therecess.

In preferred practice, the upstanding rims include a narrow,uninterrupted, upstanding rim that defines the perimeter of the stand-onsurface (i.e., it extends along at least a majority of the lengths ofthe two opposite sides and the C-shaped front of the stand-on surfacewithout interruption), and also includes narrow, uninterrupted,upstanding rims that ring (i.e., that extend in an uninterrupted fashionabout at least a majority of the perimeters of) each of the threeelongate openings (i.e, the kidney-shaped opening that is spaced fromand substantially parallels the curved front, and the elongate openingsthat are spaced from and substantially parallel the f opposite sides ofthe stand-on surface). The linear length of these four rims preferablytotals about 48 to about 52 inches which gives a narrow ridge of solidmetal adjacent the perimeter of the stand-on surface and adjacent theperimeters of the three openings for directly engaging the soles ofshoes and boots that are moved onto and pressed into engagement with thestand-on surface. This combination of lengthy reaches of narrowupstanding rim formations (that extend in a variety of directions asthey wrap about the perimeters of the stand-on surface and the openingsthat interrupt the stand-on surface) and the wide-area friction gripsurface provided by the recess-carried anti-skid material, takentogether with the presence of an uninterrupted central region (of theanti-skid material that almost always engages shoes and boots supportedby the stand-on surface) surrounded by three sizable elongate openingsthat permit shoe- and boot-carried debris to pass therethrough has beenfound during tests to provide a combination of features that cooperatesto significantly enhance the slip-resistance of the step member incomparison with the folding step design that is disclosed in thereferenced Folding Step Patent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, and a fuller understanding of the inventionmay be had by referring to the following description and claims, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding step made in accordance withthe present invention with the pivotally movable step thereof in itsextended or use position;

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof, it being understood that the leftside view is a mirror image of the right side view;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view as seen from a plane indicated by a line 5—5in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a right side view with the pivotally movable step in itsretracted or storage position; and,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but with the step in thefolded or storage position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a folding step assembly 100 is shown for useon vehicles such as trucks, railroad transit vehicles and the like. Thestep assembly 100 includes a bracket member 110, a step member 112, anda coiled tension spring 114 that urges the bracket and step members 110,112 together in a manner that permits the step member 112 to pivotrelative to the bracket member 110 between an “extended” or “use”position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, and a “folded” or “storage”position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring to FIG. 3, the step assembly 100 also includes first andsecond spring connection pins 116, 118 that connect opposite ends of thespring 114 to the bracket and step members 110, 112, and a body ofanti-skid material 200 that is nested in a complexly configured,upwardly-opening, wide-area recess 198. Elongate openings 220, 230, 240are defined by the step member 112. A narrow upstanding rim 212 extendsalong opposite sides 201, 203 and along a C-shaped front 205 of the stepmember 122, and narrow upstanding rims 222, 232, 242 ring the openings220, 230, 240. Taken together, the recess-carried body of anti-skidmaterial 200 and the narrow upstanding rims 212, 222, 232, 242 define aclover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface 196 that is located forwardlywith respect to the rear region 191 of the step member 112.

The bracket member 110 has base portions 120 that define a plurality ofmounting holes 122 for receiving fasteners such as cap screws (notshown) for clamping a back surface 124 of the bracket member 110 againsta mounting surface such as may be defined by the side of a vehicle (notshown). The bracket member 110 also has a rearwardly opening box portion130 that is bordered on opposite sides by side walls 132 which join witha complexly configured front wall 134. Aligned, rearwardly facing,U-shaped openings 150 are formed in the side walls 132. An opening 170is formed through the front wall 134.

Located on opposite sides of the box portion 130 of the bracket member110 are opposed, identically configured, oppositely extending flanges136 that define upwardly facing support surfaces 138 and forwardlyfacing stop surfaces 139. The support surfaces 138 are engaged by bottomsurfaces 140 of the step member 112 when the step member 112 is in itsextended or use position. The stop surfaces 139 are engaged byidentically configured, rearwardly-facing stop surfaces 142 of the stepmember 112 when the step member 112 is in its extended or use position.The upwardly facing support surfaces 138 and the forwardly facing stopsurfaces 139 limit the pivotal extension movement of the step member 112relative to the bracket member 110, and aid in supporting the stepmember 112 and such loads as may be applied thereto when the step member112 is in its extended or use position.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the rearwardly facing U-shaped openings 170are located slightly above the support surfaces 138. The U-shapedopenings 170 have upper and lower surfaces that incline toward eachother as they extend forwardly, and that curve toward each other attheir forward ends to join smoothly to define surfaces that are engagedby generally cylindrical, inwardly extending stub shafts 160 of the stepmember 112. The stub shafts 160 are defined by a rear region 191 of thestep member 112 which is located behind the clover-leaflet-shapedstand-on surface 196 of the step member 112. Because loads that areapplied to the step member 112 are transmitted, at least in part, to thesurfaces that define the forward end regions of the U-shaped openings150 (by engagements of the stub shafts 160 therewith), forward endregions of the U-shaped openings 150 are strengthened and their surfaceareas are increased in size by formations 152 that extend transverselyaway from the side walls 132. Forwardly facing recesses 172 are providedon opposite sides of the front wall opening 170 of the bracket member110 to receive opposite end regions of the first spring connection pin116. A central region of the first spring connection pin 116 bridgesacross the opening 170 and receives a hook-shaped front end region 180of the spring 114. The coiled body of the spring 114 extends rearwardlythrough the opening 170 to enable a hook-shaped rear end region 182 ofthe spring 114 to engage a central region of the second springconnection pin 118. Opposite ends of the second spring connection pin118 are received in recesses 184 formed in cams 190 that are located atthe inner ends of the stub shafts 160.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the cams 190 have identical short flatsurfaces 192 that engage inner surface portions of the front wall 134when the step member 112 is in its extended or use position (whichposition is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5), and identical, relativelylonger flat surfaces 194 (one of which is depicted in FIG. 3) thatengage inner surface portions of the front wall 134 when the step member112 is in its folded or storage position (which position is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7). Identical rounded cam lobes 195 (one of which isdepicted in FIG. 3) are provided at the junctures the surfaces 192, 194.The cam lobes 195 engage inner surface portions of the front wall 134when the step member 112 is being pivoted between its extended andfolded positions, and cooperate with the spring 114 to cause the stepmember 112 to be be biased toward and detented toward its extended andfolded positions in a manner well understood to those who are skilled inthe art.

The clover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface 196 has a perimeter that isbounded by the opposed sides 201, 203 which diverge as they extendforwardly from the rear region 191, and by a C-shaped front 205 thatjoins smoothly with the sides 201, 203. Underlying the perimeter of thestand-on surface 196 is a depending rib 207 (see FIGS. 4-7) that has arelatively small cross-section adjacent the front 205 (see FIGS. 5 and7), and that tapers to increase in cross-section (see FIGS. 4 and 6) asit extends away from the front 205 toward the rear region 191 of thestep member 112. The rearwardly-facing stop surfaces 139 are definedwhere the rib 207 joins the rear region 191.

Many of the folding step assembly components described above findmechanically and functionally equivalent components in the folding stepassembly that is disclosed in the referenced Folding Step Patent.Differences between the folding step assembly 100 and the folding stepassembly disclosed in the referenced Folding Step Patent resideprincipally in the configurations of the bracket and step members 110,112, and in the provision of a complexly configured layer, coating,cover or body of anti-skid material 200 which is installed so as to nestwithin the complexly configured, upwardly-facing wide-area recess 198 ofthe step member 112.

Improvements in the bracket member 110 reside in the provision of thebase portions 120 which define four mounting holes 122. When fourfasteners (not shown) are installed in the four holes 122 to securelymount the bracket member 110 on the side wall of a vehicle (or othersuitable mounting surface for the step assembly 100, not shown), thelikelihood of the step assembly 100 being broken or torn away from itsmounted position is diminished (in comparison with the bracket memberdisclosed in the referenced Folding Step Patent which utilizes only twothreaded fasteners to connect it to a mounting surface).

Improvements in the step member 112 reside in the provision of a largerupwardly-facing stand-on surface 196 of generally clover-leaflet shape(i.e. a stand-on surface that is larger in size than, and has a shapethat is much like the shape of, the stand-on surface that is defined bythe perimeter of the folding step member disclosed in the referencedFolding Step Patent) for engaging the shoes or boots of a person who issupported by the folding step assembly 100; in the provision of thethree elongate openings 220, 230, 240 that open through the stand-onsurface 196 to provide passages through which mud and other debriscarried by shoes or boots may escape as a boot or shoe is moved onto andis pressed against the stand-on step surface 196, with the openings 220,230, 240 preferably being of a substantially equal size that will permitthe fingers of one hand to be inserted therethrough when the step member112 needs to be grasped to pivot it between the extended and foldedpositions, with each of the openings being spaced a short distance fromand substantially paralleling a separate one of the front and theopposite sides of the perimeter of the stand-on surface 196, and withthe openings 220, 230, 240 being arrayed on opposite sides of and at thefront of an uninterrupted anti-skid-material-covered central region 197of the stand-on surface 196; and, in the provision of the wide-arearecess 198 (which is bordered by a rim 212 that extends along the sides201, 203 and along the front 205 of the stand-on surface 196 and by rims222, 232, 242 that extend around the openings 220, 230, 240,respectively, to define the major boundaries of the recess 198) whichreceives and nests the anti-skid material 200 to provide a layer,coating, cover or body of anti-skid material that extends across thecentral region 197 and across such regions of the stand-on surface 196as are located between the rims 222, 232, 242 of the openings 220, 230,240, and between the perimeter rim 212 of the stand-on surface 196 andthe rims 222, 232, 242 of the openings 220, 230, 240.

Because modern-day workmen and workwomen wear shoes and boots that oftenhave larger bottom surface areas than was the case a decade ago,providing the step member 112 with a larger upwardly-facing stand-onsurface 196 is desirable both to ensure good stand-on support and toincrease the contact area between the stand-on surface 196 and suchboots and shoes as are engaged therewith to minimize slippagetherebetween. The generally clover-leaflet shape of the stand-on surfaceof the step disclosed in the referenced Folding Step Patent ispreserved, but its size, and the layout and number of the elongateopenings that are formed therethrough.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the rims 222, 232 that surround the openings220, 230 are joined toward the rear of the stand-on surface 196 by atransversely extending reach of rim 199. Located rearwardly of the reachof rim 199 is small area 299 of the stand-on surface 196 that can beused to provide printed information (not shown).

In preferred practice, the area of the stand-on surface 196 (i.e., thearea that is bounded by the sides 201, 203 and the front 205, excludingthe areas of the openings 220, 230, 240) is about 24.0 to about 25.0square inches, with about 24.6 square inches being preferred; and, thecombined area of the openings 220, 230, 240 is about 12.0 to about 12.5square inches, with about 12.3 square inches being preferred; whichgives a ratio of area of the stand-on surface 196 to the area of theopenings 220, 230, 240 of about two-to-one. This relative arrangementpreferably is achieved by providing an insert 200 of adhesive-backedanti-skid that has a maximum side-to-side width of about 8.5 inches anda maximum front-to-rear dimension of about 7.0 inches, with the shape ofthe anti-skid material insert 200 conforming in a proportional manner tothe shape depicted in FIG. 2. The rims 212, 222, 232, 242 preferably areof uniform width, typically about 0.125 inches, and extend to a uniformheight above the floor of the recess 198 that preferably equals aboutthe average thickness of the anti-skid insert 200.

While the size and specific dimensions of step members that embody thepreferred practice of the present invention can be increased, diminishedor otherwise adjusted and modified without departing from the scope andspirit of the claimed invention, the arrangement described in theparagraph just above represents the best mode known to the inventor forcarrying out the preferred practice of the invention.

The precise anti-skid material selected to be nested in the recess 198(and securely bonded to the floor of the recess 198) is not a keyelement of this invention inasmuch as new and improved anti-skidmaterials are constantly being developed. What the present inventionprovides is the relatively wide-area recess 198 which can be employed toreceive and protectively nest therein (to avoid undue edge wear and/orunwanted peeling of the anti-skid material from the floor of the recess198) any of a wide variety of present-day anti-skid materials as well asnew anti-skid materials that may be substituted for present-daymaterials as new and improved anti-skid materials are developed.

While the anti-skid material 200 is depicted as taking the form of an“insert” that has been die-cut or stamped from a sheet of adhesivebacked anti-skid material of the type having adhesive on a back side ofa strong backing material with adhesive particles and a suitable binderapplied to the front side thereof, those who are skilled in the art willreadily understand that the recess 198 can be utilized equally well toreceive and nest other forms of anti-skid material that may or may notinclude a backing, for example mixtures of anti-skid material that canbe applied as a spray or in a liquid or paste form that cures orotherwise hardens in-situ to provide a friction-grip surface of abrasiveparticles or the like supported by a binder or other suitable means thatwill hold the abrasive particles in place and to give an anti-skidsurface capable of providing a lengthy and reliable service life.

One suitable type of anti-skid material that can be used to form theanti-skid insert 200 utilizes a thin, conformable aluminum sheet coatedwith medium sized silicon carbide particles on one side and a pressuresensitive adhesive on the other side, and has a nominal thickness of0.87 mm. Another suitable type utilizes a conformable plastic filmcoated with medium sized silicon carbide particles on one side and apressure sensitive adhesive backing on the other side, and has a nominalthickness of 0.74 mm.

Present-day sources of suitable commercially available adhesive-backanti-skid materials (of the type described in the paragraph just above)that can be die-cut or stamped to form inserts of the type indicated bythe numeral 200 include Jessup Manufacturing Company of McHenry, Ill.60050 (their product is referred to by the designation “Jessup SafetyTrack No. 3200 Coarse”); and Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company(their products are referred to by the designations “Safety Walk” and“General Purpose Safety Walk,” and are described in greater detail in anumber of patents including U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,550 (Hoerner et al),U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,153 (Johnston et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,604(Morgan), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.Also worthy of mention is U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,293 (Eiden) whichdiscusses the subject matter of tile three patents identified justabove, the disclosure of which also is incorporated herein by reference.

As will be apparent from the foregoing discussion taken in conjunctionwith what is depicted in the drawings and what is described in theclaims that follow, the present invention offers an improved foldingstep assembly with a step member having a generallyclover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface that preferably is interrupted bya plurality of elongate openings, wherein an upstanding rim thatperimetrically rings a majority of the stand-on surface borders anupwardly-facing wide-area recess that nests a body of anti-skidmaterial, with the openings that interrupt the stand-on surface alsobeing ringed by upstanding rims, whereby the anti-skid characteristicsof the resulting stand-on surface are significantly enhanced. Otherenhancements flow from the use of three elongate openings ofsubstantially equal size (adequate to receive the fingers of one's hand)that are spaced from and extend substantially parallel to opposed sidesand a curved, C-shaped front of the stand-on surface, with the openingsarrayed about a sizable uninterrupted central region of the anti-skidmaterial, and with the anti-skid material also extending between therims that ring the openings and between the perimetrically extending rimand the rims that ring the openings; with the most preferred practice ofthe invention providing a boot and shoe engagement surface having about24 to about 25 square inches of area, with the openings having a totalcombined area of about 12 to about 12.5 square inches (so that a ratioof the area of the stand-on engagement surface to the area of theopenings is about two-to-one), and with the total length of the rimspreferably being about 48 to about 52 inches whereby lengthy reaches ofnarrow, upstanding metal rim material are provided to engage shoes andboots supported by the stand-on surface, with the rims also serving toprotect edge regions of the anti-skid material from excess wear and/orfrom peeling away from the floor of the recess; and, with theforward-most of the three openings preferably being of kidney-shape soas to substantially parallel tile curved C-shaped front of the step topreserve features of the widely accepted and distinctiveclover-leaflet-shaped configuration disclosed in the referenced FoldingStep Patent.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example,and that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed. It is intended to protect whatever features of patentablenovelty exist in the invention disclosed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding step assembly having a folding stepmember pivotally connected to a bracket member for movement relativethereto between an extended position and a folded position, wherein thestep member, when in the extended position, defines an upwardly-facingstand-on surface defined by a front region of the step member that islocated forwardly with respect to a rear region of the step member thatis pivotally connected to the bracket member, wherein the front regionhas a front that joins with a pair of opposed sides that extend from thefront toward the rear region, wherein the stand-on surface isinterrupted by a first opening formed through the front region of thestep member and sized to receive fingers of one's hand to enable one tograsp the step member to pivot the step member between the extendedposition and the folded position, and wherein the stand-on surfaceincludes a first upstanding rim portion that extends along a majority ofthe length of the perimeter of the front region defined by the opposedsides and the front, and a second upstanding rim portion that encirclesthe first opening, with the upstanding rim portions cooperating todefine a recess that nests a body of anti-skid material that extendsbetween adjacent ones of the upstanding rim portions.
 2. The foldingstep assembly of claim 1 wherein the stand-on surface is ofclover-leaflet-shaped configuration, and the first upstanding rimportion that extends along a majority of the length of the perimeter ofthe front region extends in an uninterrupted manner along a majority ofthe length of the perimeter of the clover-leaflet-shaped stand-onsurface.
 3. The folding step assembly of claim 2 wherein the opposedsides diverge as they extend forwardly from the rear region, and thefront has a C-shape that connects smoothly with the opposed sides. 4.The folding step assembly of claim 3 wherein the stand-on surface isinterrupted by a second opening formed through the front region, andwherein the second opening is encircled by an upstanding rim thatcooperates with said first and second rim portions to define the recess.5. The folding step assembly of claim 4 wherein a floor surface of therecess extends from the first upstanding rim portion that extends alonga majority of the length of the perimeter of the front region to thesecond upstanding rim portion that encircles the first opening and tothe upstanding rim that encircles the second opening, and wherein thebody of anti-skid material is bonded to the floor surface.
 6. Thefolding step assembly of claim 3 wherein the first opening iskidney-shaped and is spaced from and substantially parallels theC-shaped front.
 7. A folding step assembly having a folding step memberpivotally connected to a bracket member for movement relative theretobetween an extended position and a folded position, wherein the stepmember, when in the extended position, defines an upwardly-facing recessbordered by a relatively thin upstanding rim, and a body of anti-skidmaterial is nested in the recess for cooperating with the upstanding rimto define a stand-on surface; wherein the stand-on surface is ofclover-leaflet-shaped configuration, and the thin upstanding rimincludes a rim portion that extends in an uninterrupted manner along amajority of the length of the perimeter of the clover-leaflet-shapedstand-on surface; wherein the step member has a rear region that ispivotally connected to the bracket member, and the stand-on surface islocated forwardly with respect to the rear region, with theclover-leaflet-shaped configuration of the stand-on surface beingdefined by a pair of opposed sides that diverge as they extend forwardlyfrom the rear region, and by a C-shaped front that connects smoothlywith the opposed sides; wherein the stand-on surface is interrupted byat least one elongate opening that provides a passage for shoe- andboot-carried debris to discharge as shoes and boots are moved onto andpressed into engagement with the stand-on surface; and, wherein the thestand-on surface also is interrupted by a pair of additional elongateopenings, each of which is spaced from and substantially parallels aseparate one of the opposed sides.
 8. The folding step assembly of claim7 wherein the thin upstanding rim includes a pair of additionalupstanding rim portions each of which rings a separate one of theopenings of the pair of additional elongate openings.
 9. A folding stepassembly having a folding step member pivotally connected to a bracketmember for movement relative thereto between an extended position and afolded position, wherein the step member, when in the extended position,defines an upwardly-facing recess bordered by a relatively thinupstanding rim, and a body of anti-skid material is nested in the recessfor cooperating with the upstanding rim to define a stand-on surface;wherein the stand-on surface is of clover-leaflet-shaped configuration,and the thin upstanding rim includes a rim portion that extends in anuninterrupted manner along a majority of the length of the perimeter ofthe clover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface; wherein the step member hasa rear region that is pivotally connected to the bracket member, and thestand-on surface is located forwardly with respect to the rear region,with the clover-leaflet-shaped configuration of the stand-on surfacebeing defined by a pair of opposed sides that diverge as they extendforwardly from the rear region, and by a C-shaped front that connectssmoothly with the opposed sides; wherein the stand-on surface isinterrupted by first, second and third openings that provide passagesfor shoe- and boot-carried debris to discharge as shoes and boots aremoved onto and pressed into engagement with the stand-on surface;wherein the first opening is of kidney shape and is spaced from andsubstantially parallels the C-shaped front, and wherein each of thesecond and third openings is spaced from and substantially parallels aseparate one of the opposed sides.
 10. The folding step assembly ofclaim 9 wherein the thin upstanding rim includes rim portions that ringthe first, second and third openings.
 11. The folding step assembly ofclaim 10 wherein the recess and the body of anti-skid material carriedtherein extends between adjacent ones of the rim portions that ring thefirst, second and third openings, and between the rim portion thatextends in an uninterrupted manner along a majority of the length of theperimeter of the clover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface.
 12. The foldingstep assembly of claim 11 wherein the recess and the body of anti-skidmaterial carried therein include an uninterrupted central region of therecess and an uninterrupted central region of the body of anti-skidmaterial carried therein that have three sides that each are bordered,at least in part, by the rim portions that ring the first, second andthird openings.
 13. The folding step assembly of claim 12 wherein thestand-on surface also includes a relatively flat region located to therear of the central region where information can be imprinted so as tobe visible to those who view the stand-on surface.
 14. In a folding stepassembly comprising a bracket member, a step member that defines aclover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface, a pivotal interconnectionbetween the bracket and the step members, a spring connected between thebracket and step members urging the bracket and step members togetherunder force at the pivotal interconnection, and a cam surface carried bythe step member, continuously acting against the bracket member underthe force of the spring, and shaped to increase the spring force duringpivoting of the step member relative to the bracket member from both afolded and extended position, the improvement comprising a stand-onsurface that is defined by a body of anti-skid material that is nestedin a recess of substantially uniform depth defined at least in part by asubstantially flat, upwardly facing floor of the step member thatsubstantially parallels and closely underlies the stand-on surface, andby a narrow upstanding rim portion that extends upwardly from the flatfloor and borders the recess and the body of anti-skid material that isnested in the recess, wherein the body of anti-skid material cooperateswith the rim portion to define a majority of the stand-on surface. 15.The folding step assembly of claim 14 wherein the step member has a rearregion that is pivotally connected to the bracket member, and thestand-on surface is located forwardly with respect to the rear region,with the clover-leaflet-shaped configuration of the stand-on surfacebeing defined by a pair of opposed sides that diverge as they extendforwardly from the rear region, and by a C-shaped front that connectssmoothly with the opposed sides, and wherein the narrow upstanding rimportion extends along the opposed sides and along the C-shaped front.16. The folding step assembly of claim 15 wherein the stand-on surfaceis interrupted by at least one elongate opening that provides a passagefor shoe- and boot-carried debris to discharge as shoes and boots aremoved onto and pressed into engagement with the stand-on surface. 17.The folding step assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one elongateopening includes an elongate, kidney-shaped opening that is spaced fromand substantially parallels the C-shaped front.
 18. The folding stepassembly of claim 16 additionally including a thin upstanding rim thatrings the at least one elongate opening.
 19. In a folding step assemblycomprising a bracket member, a step member that defines aclover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface, a pivotal interconnectionbetween the bracket and the step members, a spring connected between thebracket and step members urging the bracket and step members togetherunder force at the pivotal interconnection, and a cam surface carried bythe step member, continuously acting against the bracket member underthe force of the spring, and shaped to increase the spring force duringpivoting of the step member relative to the bracket member from both afolded and extended position, the improvement comprising a recess ofsubstantially uniform depth defined at least in part by a substantiallyflat floor that parallels and closely underlies the stand-on surface,and by a narrow upstanding rim portion that extends upwardly from theflat floor and borders a majority of the perimeter of theclover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface, with a body of anti-skidmaterial being nested in the recess and cooperating with the rim portionto define a majority of the stand-on surface; wherein the step memberhas a rear region that is pivotally connected to the bracket member, andthe stand-on surface is located forwardly with respect to the rearregion, with the clover-leaflet-shaped configuration of the stand-onsurface being defined by a pair of opposed sides that diverge as theyextend forwardly from the rear region, and by a C-shaped front thatconnects smoothly with the opposed sides, and wherein the narrowupstanding rim portion extends along the opposed sides and along theC-shaped front; and wherein the stand-on surface is interrupted by firstand second elongate openings that provide passages for shoe- andboot-carried debris to discharge as shoes and boots are moved onto andpressed into engagement with the stand-on surface; wherein each of thefirst and second elongate openings is spaced from and substantiallyparallels a separate one of the opposed sides.
 20. The folding stepassembly of claim 9 additional including a first thin upstanding rimthat rings the first opening, and a second thin upstanding rim thatrings the second opening.
 21. In a folding step assembly comprising abracket member, a step member that defines a clover-leaflet-shapedstand-on surface, a pivotal interconnection between the bracket and thestep members, a spring connected between the bracket and step membersurging the bracket and step members together under force at the pivotalinterconnection, and a cam surface carried by the step member,continuously acting against the bracket member under the force of thespring, and shaped to increase the spring force during pivoting of thestep member relative to the bracket member from both a folded andextended position, the improvement comprising a recess of substantiallyuniform depth defined at least in part by a substantially flat floorthat parallels and closely underlies the stand-on surface, and by anarrow upstanding rim portion that extends upwardly from the flat floorand borders a majority of the perimeter of the clover-leaflet-shapedstand-on surface, with a body of anti-skid material being nested in therecess and cooperating with the rim portion to define a majority of thestand-on surface; wherein the step member has a rear region that ispivotally connected to the bracket member, and the stand-on surface islocated forwardly with respect to the rear region, with theclover-leaflet-shaped configuration of the stand-on surface beingdefined by a pair of opposed sides that diverge as they extend forwardlyfrom the rear region, and by a C-shaped front that connects smoothlywith the opposed sides, and wherein the narrow upstanding rim portionextends along the opposed sides and along the C-shaped front; whereinthe stand-on surface is interrupted by first, second and third elongateopenings that provide passages for shoe- and boot-carried debris todischarge as shoes and boots are moved onto and pressed into engagementwith the stand-on surface; wherein the first elongate opening is ofkidney shape and is spaced from and substantially parallels the C-shapedfront, and wherein each of the second and third elongate openings isspaced from and substantially parallels a separate one of the opposedsides.
 22. The folding step assembly of claim 21 additionally includingthin upstanding rim portions that ring each of the first, second andthird elongate openings.
 23. The folding step assembly of claim 22wherein the recess and the body of anti-skid material carried thereinextends between adjacent ones of the rim portions that ring the first,second and third elongate openings, and between the rim portion thatextends along the opposed sides and along the C-shaped front.
 24. Thefolding step assembly of claim 23 wherein the recess and the body ofanti-skid material carried therein include an uninterrupted centralregion of the recess and an uninterrupted central region of the body ofanti-skid material carried therein that have three sides that each arebordered, at least in part, by the rim portions that ring the first,second and third elongate openings.
 25. The folding step assembly ofclaim 24 wherein the stand-on surface also includes a relatively flatregion located to the rear of the central relatively where informationcan be imprinted so as to be visible to those who view the stand-onsurface.
 26. In a folding step assembly for use on a support, whereinthe step apparatus includes a bracket member adapted to be fixed to thesupport, a step member that defines a clover-leaflet-shaped stand-onsurface located forwardly with respect to a rear region of the stepmember, means for connecting the rear region of the step member to thebracket member for pivotal movement between extended and foldedpositions relative to the bracket member, and biasing means for actingbetween the step member and the bracket member for biasing the stepmember toward the extended and folded positions as the step memberapproaches these positions during pivoting of the step member relativeto the bracket member, the improvement comprising a body of anti-skidmaterial nested within a recess of substantially uniform depth definedat least in part by a substantially flat floor of the step member thatunderlies and supports the body of anti-skid material, and by a narrowupstanding rim portion of the step member that extends upwardly from theflat floor and borders the body of anti-skid material nested in therecess, and with the body of anti-skid material cooperating with the rimportion to define a majority of the stand-on surface.
 27. The foldingstep assembly of claim 26 wherein the clover-leaflet-shapedconfiguration of the stand-on surface is defined by a pair of opposedsides that diverge as they extend forwardly from the rear region, and bya C-shaped front that connects smoothly with the opposed sides, andwherein the narrow upstanding rim portion extends along the opposedsides and along the C-shaped front.
 28. The folding step assembly ofclaim 27 wherein the stand-on surface is interrupted by at least oneelongate opening that provides a passage for shoe- and boot-carrieddebris to discharge as shoes and boots are moved onto and pressed intoengagement with the stand-on surface.
 29. The folding step assembly ofclaim 28 wherein the at least one elongate opening includes an elongate,kidney-shaped opening that is spaced from and substantially parallelsthe C-shaped front.
 30. The folding step assembly of claim 29additionally including a thin upstanding rim that rings the at least oneelongate opening.
 31. In a folding step assembly for use on a support,wherein the step apparatus includes a bracket member adapted to be fixedto the support, a step member that defines a clover-leaflet-shapedstand-on surface located forwardly with respect to a rear region of thestep member, means for connecting the rear region of the step member tothe bracket member for pivotal movement between extended and foldedpositions relative to the bracket member, and biasing means for actingbetween the step member and the bracket member for biasing the stepmember toward the extended and folded positions as the step memberapproaches these positions during pivoting of the step member relativeto the bracket member, the improvement comprising a recess ofsubstantially uniform depth defined at least in part by a substantiallyflat floor of the step member that parallels and closely underlies thestand-on surface, and by a narrow upstanding rim portion that extendsupwardly from the flat floor and borders a majority of the perimeter ofthe clover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface, with a body of anti-skidmaterial being nested in the recess and cooperating with the rim portionto define a majority of the stand-on surface; wherein theclover-leaflet-shaped configuration of the stand-on surface is definedby a pair of opposed sides that diverge as they extend forwardly fromthe rear region, and by a C-shaped front that connects smoothly with theopposed sides, and wherein the narrow upstanding rim portion extendsalong the opposed sides and along the C-shaped front; wherein thestand-on surface is interrupted by three elongate openings that providespassages for shoe- and boot-carried debris to discharge as shoes andboots are moved onto and pressed into engagement with the stand-onsurface; and, wherein the three elongate openings includes first andsecond elongate openings, each of which is spaced from and substantiallyparallels a separate one of the opposed sides.
 32. The folding stepassembly of claim 31 additionally including a first thin upstanding rimthat rings the first opening, and a second thin upstanding rim thatrings the second opening.
 33. In a folding step assembly for use on asupport, wherein the step apparatus includes a bracket member adapted tobe fixed to the support, a step member that defines aclover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface located forwardly with respect toa rear region of the step member, means for connecting the rear regionof the step member to the bracket member for pivotal movement betweenextended and folded positions relative to the bracket member, andbiasing means for acting between the step member and the bracket memberfor biasing the step member toward the extended and folded positions asthe step member approaches these positions during pivoting of the stepmember relative to the bracket member, the improvement comprising arecess of substantially uniform depth defined at least in part by asubstantially flat floor of the step member that parallels and closelyunderlies the stand-on surface, and by a narrow upstanding rim portionthat extends upwardly from the flat floor and borders a majority of theperimeter of the clover-leaflet-shaped stand-on surface, with a body ofanti-skid material being nested in the recess and cooperating with therim portion to define a majority of the stand-on surface; wherein theclover-leaflet-shaped configuration of the stand-on surface is definedby a pair of opposed sides that diverge as they extend forwardly fromthe rear region, and by a C-shaped front that connects smoothly with theopposed sides, and wherein the narrow upstanding rim portion extendsalong the opposed sides and along the C-shaped front; wherein thestand-on surface is interrupted by three elongate openings that providepassages for shoe- and boot-carried debris to discharge as shoes andboots are moved onto and pressed into engagement with the stand-onsurface; and, wherein the three elongate openings include a firstelongate opening of kidney shape that is spaced from and substantiallyparallels the C-shaped front, and second and third openings each ofwhich is spaced from and substantially parallels a separate one of theopposed sides.
 34. The folding step assembly of claim 33 additionalincluding thin upstanding rim portions that ring each of the threeelongate openings.
 35. The folding step assembly of claim 34 wherein therecess and the body of anti-skid material carried therein extendsbetween adjacent ones of the rim portions that ring each of the threeelongate openings, and between the rim portion that extends along theopposed sides and along the C-shaped front.
 36. The folding stepassembly of claim 35 wherein the recess and the body of anti-skidmaterial carried therein include an uninterrupted central region of therecess and an uninterrupted central region of the body of anti-skidmaterial carried therein that have three sides that each are bordered,at least in part, by the rim portions that ring the three elongateopenings.
 37. The folding step assembly of claim 36 wherein the stand-onsurface also includes a relatively flat region located to the rear ofthe central region where information can be imprinted so as to bevisible to those who view the stand-on surface.
 38. A folding stepassembly having a folding step member pivotally connected to a bracketmember for movement relative thereto between an extended position and afolded position, wherein the step member, when in the extended position,defines an upwardly-facing stand-on surface of clover-leaflet-shapedconfiguration located forwardly with respect to a rear region that ispivotally connected to the bracket member, wherein theclover-leaflet-shaped configuration is defined by a pair of opposedsides that diverge as they extend away from the rear region, and by aC-shaped front that joins smoothly with the opposed sides, and whereinthe stand-on surface is interrupted by three elongate openings, with oneof the three elongate openings being of kidney shape, spaced from andsubstantially paralleling the C-shaped front, with each of the otherelongate openings being spaced from and substantially paralleling aseparate one of the opposed sides, and with all three of the elongateopenings being sized to receive four fingers of one's hand to enable oneto grasp the step member to pivot the step member between the extendedand folded positions.
 39. The folding step assembly of claim 38 whereinthe stand-on surface includes a thin upstanding rim portion that extendsalong a majority of the length of the perimeter defined by the two sidesand the C-shaped front, and thin upstanding rim portions that encirclethe three openings, with the thin upstanding rim portions cooperating todefine a recess that nests a body of anti-skid material that is bondedto a floor surface of the step member that extends between adjacent onesof the upstanding rim portions.
 40. The folding step assembly of claim39 wherein the height to which the thin upstanding rim portions extendabove the floor surface being at least as great as the average thicknessof the body of anti-skid material that is bonded to the floor surface.41. The folding step assembly of claim 38 wherein the stand-on surfaceis defined at least in part by anti-skid material on an upwardly facingsurface of the folding step member.
 42. The folding step assembly ofclaim 38 wherein the stand-on surface is defined at least in part byanti-skid material bonded to an upwardly facing surface of the foldingstep member.
 43. The folding step assembly of claim 38 wherein thestand-on surface includes an upstanding rim portion that extends along amajority of the length of the two sides and the C-shaped front, andupstanding rim portions that encircle the three openings, with theupstanding rim portions cooperating to define a recess that nestsanti-skid material that extends between adjacent ones of the upstandingrim portions.
 44. The folding step assembly of claim 38 wherein thestand-on surface includes an upstanding rim portion that extends along amajority of the length of the two sides and the C-shaped front, andupstanding rim portions that encircle the three openings, with theupstanding rim portions cooperating to define a recess that nests a bodyof anti-skid material that is bonded to a floor surface of the stepmember that extends between adjacent ones of the upstanding rimportions.